On the island of Nusa Penida there lived an incestuous demon, Jero Gede Mecaling, the Tusked Giant. Once he came to Bali, followed by a horde of devils. He landed in South Bali in the form of a Barong and waited there while his henchmen went inland to destroy. The people grew alarmed and consulted a priest who told them they must create another Barong like Jero Gede Mecaling; that alone could scare away the demon. So they made a big Barong and succeeded in frightening the giant back to Nusa. Since then, the Barong has been used for driving away illness and evil spirits.
This folktale gives an origin of the Barong Landung (“tall” Barong), a name applying to two giant puppets, a male and a female. Believed to have powers to exorcise harmful influences during times of distress, these puppets are considered sacred and, like the other Barongs. are kept in a special bale in the temple. Together they enact a comic opera sung in Balinese, with a story usually taken from his¬tory. Jero Gede, the male puppet, is a burly, black giant with puffed cheeks and ruby red lips, who is supposed to resemble the legendary Tusked Giant of Nusa Penida. His con¬sort. Jero Luh, dressed all in white, has a protruding forehead and chin, and a loud, husky voice (that of a man) which she doesn’t hesitate to use to its fullest extent.
In many villages of South Bali, the enormous couple is accompanied by puppets with small¬er masks, who play the parts of princes and princesses. Often. Jero Gede and Jero Luh act as clowns, rocking about in the most unpredictable fashion to the low resonant drums and shimmering flute. Their remarks can be of the bawdiest humor which go down well with the earthy members of the Balinese audience and draw embarrassed giggles from the shyer ones, especially when the prince and princess show a little affection toward one another.

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